Techniques to manage transitions between private and public networks

Abstract

Techniques to manage transitions between private and public wireless networks for wireless devices are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise a logic circuit and a memory unit. The apparatus may further include connection logic operative on the logic circuit to attempt a network connection by: retrieving a first access location value from the memory unit when attempting a network connection from the apparatus; retrieving a stored internal probe link from the memory unit when the access location value is internal; retrieving a stored external probe link from the memory unit when the access location value is external; attempting to connect to a network site referenced by the retrieved probe link; and connecting to a final location via the network site when the connection attempt to the network site is successful. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a logic circuit;   a memory unit; and   connection logic operative on the logic circuit to attempt a network connection by:
 retrieving a first access location value from the memory unit when attempting a network connection from the apparatus; 
 retrieving a stored internal probe link from the memory unit when the first access location value is internal; 
 retrieving a stored external probe link from the memory unit when the first access location value is external; 
 attempting to connect to a network site referenced by the retrieved probe link; and 
 connecting to a final location via the network site when the connection attempt to the network site is successful. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the connection logic operative to, when the connection attempt to the network site is not successful:
 attempt to connect to an internal discovery service in an internal network;   connect to a final location within the internal network when the attempt to connect to the internal discovery service succeeds;   receive a second access location attribute value indicating an internal network and the final location link from the internal discovery service; and   store the final location link as an internal probe link in the memory unit.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , the connection logic operative to, when the attempt to connect to the internal discovery service does not succeed:
 attempt to connect to an external discovery service in an external network;   connect to a final location within the external network;   receive a third access location attribute value indicating an external network, and the final location, from the external discovery service; and   store the final location as an external probe link.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the internal network is a private network and the external network is a public network. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the connection logic operative to attempt a network connection when transitioning from a first network to a second network. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising:
 an application stored in the memory unit, wherein executing the application on the logic circuit causes the connection logic to attempt a network connection.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , comprising:
 a plurality of applications stored in the memory unit;   a plurality of internal probe links, each internal probe link associated with a separate application; and   a plurality of external probe links, each external probe link associated with a separate application.   
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method operating on a wireless computing device, comprising:
 retrieving a first access location value when attempting a network connection from a wireless device;   retrieving a stored internal probe link when the access location value is internal;   retrieving a stored external probe link when the access location value is external;   attempting to connect to the retrieved probe link; and   connecting to a final location when the connection attempt is successful.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , comprising, when the connection attempt is not successful:
 attempting to connect to an internal discovery service in an internal network;   connecting to a final location within the internal network when the attempt to connect to the internal discovery service succeeds;   receiving a second access location attribute value indicating an internal network and the final location link from the internal discovery service; and   storing the final location link as an internal probe link.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 9 , comprising, when the attempt to connect to the internal discovery service does not succeed:
 attempting to connect to an external discovery service in an external network;   connecting to a final location within the external network;   receiving a third access location attribute value indicating an external network, and the final location, from the external discovery service; and   storing the final location as an external probe link.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 10 , wherein the internal network is a private network and the external network is a public network. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 launching an application that uses a network connection on the wireless device; and   performing the method of  claim 8  to establish a network connection for the application.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 transitioning from a first network to a second network; and   performing the method of  claim 8  to establish a network connection.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 storing a plurality of internal probe links, each internal probe link associated with one of a plurality of applications that use a network connection on the wireless device; and   storing a plurality of external probe links, each external probe link associated with one of the plurality of applications.   
     
     
         15 . At least one computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause a system to:
 retrieve a first access location value when attempting a network connection;   retrieve a stored internal probe link when the access location value is internal;   retrieve a stored external probe link when the access location value is external;   attempt to connect to a network site referenced by the retrieved probe link; and   connect to a final location via the network site when the connection attempt to the network site is successful.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions that when executed cause the system to, when the connection attempt to the network site is not successful:
 attempt to connect to an internal discovery service in an internal network;   receive a second access location attribute value indicating an internal network and an internal link from the internal discovery service, when the attempt to connect to the internal discovery service succeeds;   connect to the internal link within the internal network;   connect to a destination link within the internal network; and   store the destination link as an internal probe link.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 16 , comprising instructions that when executed cause the system to, when the attempt to connect to the internal discovery service does not succeed:
 attempt to connect to an external discovery service in an external network;   connect to a final location within the external network;   receive a third access location attribute value indicating an external network, and the final location, from the external discovery service; and   store the final location as an external probe link.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions that when executed cause the system to: attempt a network connection when transitioning from a first network to a second network. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions that when executed cause the system to:
 attempt a network connection when an application is launched on the system.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , comprising instructions that when executed cause the system to:
 store a plurality of internal probe links, each internal probe link associated with one of a plurality of applications that use a network connection in the system; and   store a plurality of external probe links, each external probe link associated with one of the plurality of applications.